She wasn't a true poison doctor, so it was best to avoid using the title. She had no intention of practicing medicine in the future.
Xie Jiang had no objections. The imperial physicians had arrived, and her skills were no longer needed, leaving her with ample leisure.
The Duke of Qian had not expected the imperial physicians to arrive so quickly. They were likely already waiting on Jade Pot Island, prepared for any emergency.
Had the Duke of Qian known there were imperial physicians on the island, he wouldn't have summoned Xie Jiang. If something were to happen to Hou Chun, and the pretense of her being a poison doctor was exposed, it would only cause trouble for Xie Jiang.
While everyone's attention was focused on Hou Chun, Xie Jiang could finally go find her elder brother and younger sister.
Initially, Xie Jiang had planned to stroll through the gardens and "accidentally" encounter them.
After a moment's thought, she decided she was too lazy to pretend and went straight to them.
She had taken a liking to the island's twin-colored lotuses and wanted to ask Song Ze for a plant. What was the harm in that?
With Xie Taihong and He Zhifei present, she didn't need to handle social interactions herself. However, because she was the young master of the Xie clan and possessed striking beauty, it was difficult to avoid attracting attention wherever she went.
Seeing Xie Jiang approach the Song siblings directly, and appearing to be enjoying a lively conversation with the young Duke Song, no one would have made overly complex assumptions.
If not for the peculiar circumstances of the Duke of Dingguo's household, which seemed to bring misfortune to anyone associated with it, who wouldn't want to be near the young Duke Song?
Everyone knew Xie Jiang was notoriously lawless, so much so that bad luck itself would get nervous and turn back when it encountered her.
Xie Jiang, of course, felt no reservations.
Xie Jiang was listening to Song Ze explain how to cultivate the twin-colored lotuses, and to Song Xun talking about how the Duke of Dingguo's estate was filled with rare and exotic flowers...
Su Yang, who wished he could stick to Xie Jiang's side all day, saw Xie Jiang with the Song siblings and, with great perceptiveness, did not approach.
Ruan Ziji and Lou Yue, who wanted to come over, were also cleverly held back by Su Yang.
Su Yang understood perfectly now. The young master's sudden eagerness to attend the imperial banquet was solely to see the Song siblings. How could he possibly disturb him at this moment?
Suddenly, the Duke of Qian rushed over, grabbed Xie Jiang's arm, and pulled her up. "Ah, you brat, hiding here for what? Hurry and come see Minister Hou. Do you know what illness Minister Hou has?"
Xie Jiang was bewildered. "Aren't the imperial physicians here? I was having a pleasant conversation..."
"I know you too well; what pleasant conversation could you be having? Saving a life is like fighting a fire..."
The Duke of Qian lifted Xie Jiang with one hand, bid farewell to Song Ze, and dragged her away.
Song Xun looked somewhat stunned. In the distance, Xu Hengyi saw the Duke of Qian carrying Xie Jiang like a little chick, sharing the same stunned expression as Song Xun.
"Hey, you're saying that about me..." Xie Jiang escaped from the Duke of Qian's clutches. "You old man, you have a prejudice against me, always looking at me through colored glasses."
Saying this, she turned back and called out loudly towards Song Ze, "Young Duke Song, you promised to give me a twin-colored lotus!"
Song Ze smiled and nodded. "The Marquis of Nanhai can send someone to collect it at any time."
Xie Jiang exclaimed excitedly, "I'll come to collect it personally another day!"
What a perfect opportunity to enter the Duke of Dingguo's household openly!
Upon hearing this, Song Xun's eyes lit up, but he dared not show too much excitement, only clutching the handkerchief in his hand tightly.
If Second Sister was coming to collect it personally, wouldn't that mean she could come home?
As the Duke of Qian dragged Xie Jiang along, he said, "You actually asked Song Ze for a twin-colored lotus?"
Xie Jiang said proudly, "The young Duke Song is very accommodating."
The Duke of Qian suddenly recalled something he had heard. "I heard you asked Doctor Lou to examine Song Ze's eyes?"
Xie Jiang nodded. "I've met with the young Duke Song a few times, and we've become somewhat acquainted. Such a good person, and so young. If his eyes could be cured..."
She then sighed softly.
The Duke of Qian guessed the outcome. If his eyes could have been cured, there would have been no further mention of it.
But hearing Xie Jiang's sigh, his last shred of hope was extinguished.
What a pity.
As Xie Jiang walked, she realized the route was wrong; they were moving away from the banquet. "Where are you taking me?"
"Minister Hou has been carried to that side hall. The two imperial physicians are a bit uncertain. Observing your expression just now, you seem to have a clear idea, don't you?"
"It's just a parasite; what's so uncertain about it?"
"What, what worm?"
The side hall was crowded with people inside and out. Yi Yanguan and Xia Rongyu were also present.
As she passed Yi Yanguan, Xie Jiang winked at him.
She hadn't seen him for several days and planned to meet him privately later.
The two imperial physicians on duty from the Imperial Medical Office that night had also been summoned. Four imperial physicians were gathered, discussing Minister Hou's condition.
Seeing the Duke of Qian bring Xie Jiang over, the four imperial physicians stepped forward to humbly seek her advice.
The imperial physicians respected the skills of the poison doctors. Even though they were in the Imperial Medical Office and the poison doctors were in the wild, they were not so arrogant and aloof as to believe their medical skills were unmatched in the world.
They had been helpless with the illness of Madam Xu Tai in the past, and it was the Marquis of Nanhai who pulled Madam Xu Tai back from the brink of death, demonstrating that the poison doctors' abilities far surpassed those of the Imperial Medical Office.
The current situation was similar to the past. They were unsure of Minister Hou's condition, and a dose of medicine had no effect, indicating their previous diagnosis was incorrect.
Xie Jiang went over and looked at Hou Chun, whose face was pale from pain, his eyes beginning to look vacant and unfocused.
"I will write a prescription. Have it decocted immediately and administered to Minister Hou. Also, lend me a set of silver needles."
An imperial physician led her to a desk. They had already prepared a prescription, and the ink and brushes were readily available. Another imperial physician lent her his silver needles.
The Duke of Qian asked her in a low voice, "Can you cure him?"
Imperial Physician Wang, overhearing this, felt a bit puzzled. Why would the Duke of Qian ask like that, as if he had little confidence in the Marquis of Nanhai?
"It hasn't reached the worst stage yet. If it were a few more days, it would be difficult to say."
Xie Jiang finished writing the prescription and handed it to the young attendant from the Imperial Medical Office. She then picked up Imperial Physician Zhao's silver needle pouch and walked to the bedside. She asked Madam Hou to help Hou Chun remove his clothes.
Glancing at the spittoon by the bed, Xie Jiang said to Madam Hou, "You must be mentally prepared."
Upon hearing the word "prepared"...
Madam Hou misunderstood the meaning and was so startled that she almost fell to the ground. Fortunately, her son caught her.
Xie Jiang's eyes widened in disbelief. "I meant that Minister Hou's vomit might be unpleasant later, not what you are imagining."
Madam Hou clutched her chest and let out a sigh of relief. "It's good that it's not what I imagined. Marquis Nanhai, please proceed. We are not afraid of whatever the master vomits, as long as the master is well."
Minister Hou's eldest son, Hou Jingyi, asked, "Could it be... something in my father's stomach?"
Xie Jiang did not answer, focusing on administering the needles.
Soon, everyone would know what was in Minister Hou's stomach.
Minister Hou leaned over the bed and vomited profusely.
Seeing the wriggling masses, Hou Jingyi's hands trembled so much that he almost dropped the spittoon.
Madam Hou turned and collapsed into the arms of a maidservant, retching uncontrollably.
The other masters and servants of the Hou family looked on in terror.
Even the Duke of Qian, who was battle-hardened and experienced, changed his expression.
Who would have thought that Minister Hou would vomit so many live worms!